Former lok Sabha MP Panna lal Punia will be the Congress nominee in biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. The announcement regarding the nomination of Punia, a former bureaucrat and ex-Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, was made by AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry.
Congress managers expect that the Samajwadi Party would support the candidature of Punia, a friend-turned-foe of BSP supremo Mayawati, if there is a contest. Congress has just 28 seats in the 403-member House and would require the backing of ruling SP which has 221 members. On its own strength of 80, BSP can send two of its candidates to the Rajya Sabha. The BSP is expected to announce its candidates on Wednesday.
The BJP with 38 MlAs in UP Assembly can send one person to the Rajya Sabha. Mohd Addeb, an Independent, who is also retiring on November 25, was sent to the Upper House by the SP and Congress. The polls would take place on November 20 for 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh which will fall vacant on November 25. Out of the 10, six are at present occupied by the BSP.